MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'International Journal for Parasitology' source. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:48:10 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5638263&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22281304%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tull D, Heng J, Gooley PR, Naderer T, McConville MJ Abstract Trypanosomatid parasites express a number of mono- and diacylated proteins that are targeted to distinct regions of the plasma membrane including the cell body, the flagellum and the flagellar pocket. The extent to which the acylation status and other protein motifs regulate the targeting and/or retention of these proteins to the distinct membrane domains is poorly defined. We have previously described a family of small myristoylated proteins (SMPs) that are either monoacylated (myristoylated) or diacylated (myristoylated and palmitoylated) and targeted to distinct plasma membrane domains. Diacylated SMP-1 is a major constituent of the flagellar membrane, whereas monoacylated SMP-2 resides in the flagellar pocket... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5638263 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5638263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5638265&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22265898%26dopt%3DAbstract The objectives of this study were to identify R. annulatus genes differentially expressed in response to infection with B. bigemina. Functional analyses were conducted on selected genes by RNA interference in both R. annulatus and R. microplus ticks. Eight hundred randomly selected suppression-subtractive hybridisation library clones were sequenced and analysed. Molecular function Gene Ontology assignments showed that the obtained tick sequences encoded for proteins with different cellular functions. Differentially expressed genes with putative functions in tick-pathogen interactions were selected for validation of SSH results by real-time reverse transcription-PCR. Genes encoding for TROSPA, calreticulin, ricinusin and serum amyloid A were over-expressed in B. bigemina-infected ticks whil... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5638265 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5638265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5638264&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22265899%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lobo ML, Xiao L, Antunes F, Matos O Abstract Despite recent advances in the understanding and diagnosis of emerging microsporidian pathogens, more research is necessary to elucidate their complex epidemiology. In fact, studies that reflect true human-infecting microsporidian prevalence are still inadequate. The present 10-year study was undertaken to examine the occurrence of Microsporidia in 1989 stools, 69 urine and 200 pulmonary specimens from HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients using PCR and DNA sequencing. In stools, 12.0% were Microsporidia-positive. Prevalences of 13.9% and 8.5% were observed for HIV+ and HIV- samples, respectively. The percentage of children that were Microsporidia-positive (18.8%) was significantly higher than that of adults (10.2%). In stools,... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5638264 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5638264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5597905&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22233830%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ros-García A, Juste RA, Hurtado A Abstract Piroplasms are among the most harmful tick-borne pathogens for livestock and sensitive and specific diagnostic methods for rapid detection and identification of the different species are needed for effective control. Reverse Line Blot has been the molecular technique of choice but it is laborious, time-consuming and highly susceptible to subjective variation in the interpretation of the hybridisation signal. Here, an oligonucleotide multiplex suspension microarray (Luminex® microsphere system) was developed for bovine piroplasms. Probes previously used in Reverse Line Blot for Babesia divergens, Babesia bovis, Babesia occultans, Babesia bigemina and Theileria buffeli, and a catch-all Theileria and Babesia control probe, were inc... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5597905 Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5597905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5597904&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22240310%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Borlon C, Russell B, Sriprawat K, Suwanarusk R, Erhart A, Renia L, Nosten F, D'Alessandro U Abstract The establishment of a Plasmodium vivaxin vitro culture system is critical for the development of new vaccine, drugs and diagnostic tests. Although short-term cultures have been successfully set up, their reproducibility in laboratories without direct access to P. vivax-infected patients has been limited by the need for fresh parasite isolates. We explored the possibility of using parasite isolates and reticulocytes, both cryopreserved, to perform invasion and initiate short-term culture. Invasion results obtained with both cryopreserved isolates and reticulocytes were similar to those obtained with fresh samples. This method should be easily replicated in laboratories outs... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5597904 Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5597904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5597906&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22233829%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cárdenas G, Valdez R, Sáenz B, Bottasso O, Fragoso G, Sciutto E, Romano M, Fleury A Abstract Neurocysticercosis (NC) is a parasitic disease caused by the infiltration of the larval stage of Taenia solium in the central nervous system. Clinical presentations are heterogeneous and particularly depend, on the age and gender of the host. We designed a clinical study to evaluate the hormonal changes associated with neurocysticercosis and the relationships between disease heterogeneity, endocrine and immunological status. A total of 50 patients and 22 healthy subjects were included. A precise clinical and radiological description of disease for each patient was recorded. A broad hormonal profile was assessed for each participant and, in a sub-group of patients, immunological f... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5597906 Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5597906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5577713&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22222968%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jackson KE, Pham JS, Kwek M, De Silva NS, Allen SM, Goodman CD, McFadden GI, de Pouplana LR, Ralph SA Abstract The causative agent of malaria, Plasmodium, possesses three translationally active compartments: the cytosol, the mitochondrion and a relic plastid called the apicoplast. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases to charge tRNA are thus required for all three compartments. However, the Plasmodiumfalciparum genome encodes too few tRNA synthetases to supply a unique enzyme for each amino acid in all three compartments. We have investigated the subcellular localisation of three tRNA synthetases (AlaRS, GlyRS and ThrRS), which occur only once in the nuclear genome, and we show that each of these enzymes is dually localised to the P. falciparum cytosol and the apicoplast. No mitochon... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5577713 Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5577713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512111&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22154850%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lim DC, Cooke BM, Doerig C, Saeij JP Abstract Some apicomplexan parasites have evolved distinct protein kinase families to modulate host cell structure and function. Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry protein kinases and pseudokinases (ROPKs) are involved in virulence and modulation of host cell signalling. The proteome of Plasmodium falciparum contains a family of putative kinases called FIKKs, some of which are exported to the host red blood cell and might play a role in erythrocyte remodelling. In this review we will discuss kinases known to be critical for host cell invasion, intracellular growth and egress, focusing on (i) calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) and (ii) the secreted kinases that are unique to Toxoplasma (ROPKs) and Plasmodium (FIKKs). PMID: 22154850 [Pu... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512111 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512109&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155152%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rinaldi G, Suttiprapa S, Tort JF, Folley AE, Skinner DE, Brindley PJ Abstract Drug selection is widely used in transgene studies of microbial pathogens, mammalian cell and plant cell lines. Drug selection of transgenic schistosomes would be desirable to provide a means to enrich for populations of transgenic worms. We adapted murine leukaemia retrovirus vectors - widely used in human gene therapy research - to transduce schistosomes, leading to integration of transgenes into the genome of the blood fluke. A dose-response kill curve and lethal G418 (geneticin) concentrations were established: 125-1,000μg/ml G418 were progressively more toxic for schistosomules of Schistosoma mansoni with toxicity increasing with antibiotic concentration and with duration of exposure. By da... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512109 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512112&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22154849%26dopt%3DAbstract This study therefore provides extensive and novel details of the ultrastructure of a neglected protozoan parasite that is an emerging cause of human disease. PMID: 22154849 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512112 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512110&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22154851%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yin M, Petrusek A, Seda J, Wolinska J Abstract Numerous theoretical studies suggest that parasites impose a strong selection pressure on their host, driving genetic changes within host populations. Yet evidence of this process in the wild is scarce. In the present study we surveyed, using high resolution microsatellite markers, the genetic structure of cyclically parthenogenetic Daphnia hosts within two different Daphnia communities belonging to the Daphnia longispina hybrid complex. One community, consisting of a single host species, was infected with the protozoan parasite Caullerya mesnili. The second community consisted of two parental Daphnia spp. and their hybrids, and was infected with the yeast parasite Metschnikowia. Significant differences in the clonal compositi... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512110 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512114&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22146157%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gustafsson DR, Olsson U Abstract The wing louse genus Lunaceps, is the most speciose chewing louse (Phthiraptera) genus inhabiting sandpipers (Charadriiformes: Calidrinae) and is known from almost all sandpiper species. The hosts follow specific flyways from the Arctic breeding grounds to wintering locations in the southern hemisphere, and often form large mixed-species flocks during migration and wintering. We estimated a phylogeny of Lunaceps based on three mitochondrial loci, supporting monophyly of the genus but revealing extensive paraphyly at the species level. We also evaluated the relative importance of flyway differentiation (same host species having different lice along different flyways) and flyway homogenisation (different host species having the same lice alon... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512114 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512113&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22154673%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Huys R, Fatih F, Ohtsuka S, Llewellyn-Hughes J Abstract Poecilostome cyclopoids are among the most morphologically diverse copepods, having established symbiotic relationships with teleosts, elasmobranchs and invertebrate hosts belonging to no fewer than 14 marine phyla. Many parasitic lineages display radically divergent body plans and on that basis have traditionally been placed at higher taxonomic rank than they deserve. The most recent example is the monotypic family Umazuracolidae, established for a derived fish parasite with bomolochiform affinities. Phylogenetic analysis of complete ssrDNA (18S) sequences of 44 species belonging to 21 families of cyclopoid copepods shows that there is no support for the familial distinctiveness of the Umazuracolidae. Both maximum pa... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512113 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512121&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22138016%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Li J, Chen W, Wu J, Peng W, An J, Schmid-Hempel P, Schmid-Hempel R Abstract Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are important pollinators of many economically important crops and microsporidia are among the most important infections of these hosts. Using molecular markers, we screened a large sample (n=1,009 bees) of workers of 27 different Bombus spp. from China (Sichuan, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu provinces). The results showed that 62 individuals representing 12 Bombus spp. were infected by microsporidia with an overall prevalence of 6.1%. Based on the haplotypes (ssrRNA sequences), we confirmed the presence of Nosema bombi, Nosema ceranae and (likely) Nosema thomsoni. In addition, four new putatively novel taxa were identified by phylogenetic reconstruction: Nosema A, Nos... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512121 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512120&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22138017%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we characterised the general topology of smorf genes and investigated the gene repertoire, transcriptional profile and SMORF expression in two distinct strains, T2Bo and Mo7. Sequence analysis using degenerate primers identified additional smorf genes in each strain and demonstrated that the smorf gene repertoire varies between strains, with conserved and unique genes in both. Smorf genes have multiple semi-conserved and variable blocks, and a large hypervariable insertion in 20 of the 44 genes defines two major branches of the family, termed smorf A and smorf B. A total of 32 smorf genes are simultaneously transcribed in T2Bo strain B. bovis merozoites obtained from deep brain tissue of an acutely infected animal. SMORF peptide-specific antiserum bound in immunoblots to mul... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512120 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512119&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22138018%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ma YF, Weiss LM, Huang H Abstract Analysis of gene function in Trypanosoma cruzi is limited due to the absence of rapid, simple and reversible genetic tools to regulate gene and corresponding protein expression. We have designed a modified pTREX vector which uses an N-terminal fusion of a ligand-controlled destabilisation domain (ddFKBP) to a gene/protein of interest. This vector allows rapid and reversible protein expression and efficient functional analysis of proteins in different T. cruzi life cycle stages. PMID: 22138018 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512119 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512118&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22138019%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nam JH, Moon JH, Kim IK, Lee MR, Hong SJ, Ahn JH, Chung JW, Pak JH Abstract Chronic clonorchiasis, caused by direct and continuous contact with Clonorchis sinensis worms and their excretory-secretory products, is associated with hepatobiliary damage, inflammation, periductal fibrosis and even development of cholangiocarcinoma. Our previous report revealed that intracellular reactive oxygen species were generated in C. sinensis excretory-secretory product-treated human cholangiocarcinoma cells; however, their endogenous sources and pathophysiological roles in host cells were not determined. In the present study, we found that treatment of human cholangiocarcinoma cells with excretory-secretory products triggered increases in free radicals via a time-dependent activation of ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512118 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512117&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22142560%26dopt%3DAbstract We report here the generation of more than 45,000 open reading frame expressed sequence tag (ORESTES) cDNA reads of E. tenella, Eimeria maxima and Eimeria acervulina, covering several developmental stages: unsporulated oocysts, sporoblastic oocysts, sporulated oocysts, sporozoites and second generation merozoites. All reads were assembled to constitute gene indices and submitted to a comprehensive functional annotation pipeline. In the case of E. tenella, we also incorporated publicly available ESTs to generate an integrated body of information. Orthology analyses have identified genes conserved across different apicomplexan parasites, as well as genes restricted to the genus Eimeria. Digital expression profiles obtained from ORESTES/EST countings, submitted to clustering analyses, reveale... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512117 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512116&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22142561%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kang JS, Koh YH, Moon YS, Lee SH Abstract The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a destructive pest in several countries including Japan, China and Korea. Of three genes encoding the venom allergen-like protein in B. xylophilus, Bxvap-1 showed the highest transcript levels at the pine-grown propagative stage. In addition, western blot and immunohistochemical analyses using anti-BxVap-1 polyclonal antibody verified a specific increase in BxVap-1 expression levels at the pine-grown propagative stage. Using immunohistochemistry, BxVap-1 was detected around the putative oesophageal glands and metacarpus, suggesting that BxVap-1 is secreted into the host pine tree and is involved in the parasitic mechanism. To explain the parasitic role of BxVap-1, we measured th... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512116 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512115&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22142562%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gualdrón-López M, Brennand A, Hannaert V, Quiñones W, Cáceres AJ, Bringaud F, Concepción JL, Michels PA Abstract A characteristic, well-studied feature of the pathogenic protists belonging to the family Trypanosomatidae is the compartmentalisation of the major part of the glycolytic pathway in peroxisome-like organelles, hence designated glycosomes. Such organelles containing glycolytic enzymes appear to be present in all members of the Kinetoplastea studied, and have recently also been detected in a representative of the Diplonemida, but they are absent from the Euglenida. Glycosomes therefore probably originated in a free-living, common ancestor of the Kinetoplastea and Diplonemida. The initial sequestering of glycolytic enzymes inside peroxisomes may have been the ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512115 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5418471&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22079832%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Aguirre-Macedo ML, Vidal-Martínez VM, Lafferty KD Abstract In September 2002, Hurricane Isidore devastated the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. To understand its effects on the parasites of aquatic organisms, we analyzed long-term monthly population data of the horn snail Cerithidea pliculosa and its trematode communities in Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico before and after the hurricane (February 2001 to December 2009). Five trematode species occurred in the snail population: Mesostephanus appendiculatoides, Euhaplorchis californiensis, two species of the genus Renicola and one Heterophyidae gen. sp. Because these parasites use snails as first intermediate hosts, fishes as second intermediate hosts and birds as final hosts, their presence in snails depends on food webs. No snails ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5418471 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5418471 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5418470&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22079833%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schneider RE, Brown MT, Shiflett AM, Dyall SD, Hayes RD, Xie Y, Loo JA, Johnson PJ Abstract The human pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis lacks conventional mitochondria and instead contains divergent mitochondrial-related organelles. These double-membrane bound organelles, called hydrogenosomes, produce molecular hydrogen. Phylogenetic and biochemical analyses of hydrogenosomes indicate a common origin with mitochondria; however identification of hydrogenosomal proteins and studies on its metabolism have been limited. Here we provide a detailed proteomic analysis of the T. vaginalis hydrogenosome. The proteome of purified hydrogenosomes consists of 569 proteins, a number substantially lower than the 1,000-1,500 proteins reported for fungal and animal mitochondrial proteomes, y... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5418470 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5418470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5418469&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22085647%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Welter BH, Goldston AM, Temesvari LA Abstract Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of dysentery and liver abscess and is prevalent in developing countries. Adhesion to the host is critical to infection and is mediated by amoebic surface receptors. One such receptor, the Gal/GalNAc lectin, binds to galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine residues on host components and consists of heavy (Hgl), light (Lgl) and intermediate subunits. The mechanism by which the lectin assembles into a functional complex is not known. The parasite also relies on cholesterol-rich domains (lipid rafts) for adhesion. Therefore, it is conceivable that rafts regulate the assembly or function of the lectin. To test this, amoebae were loaded with cholesterol and lipid rafts were purified and charac... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5418469 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5418469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5418472&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22075243%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, capsule endoscopy shows promise as an alternative to necropsy for the enumeration of A. caninum in the canine small intestine, although further work is required to improve completion rates and optimise intestinal examination. PMID: 22075243 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5418472 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5418472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5418473&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22056297%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sanchez A, Devevey G, Bize P Abstract Previous studies addressing the importance of host gender in parasite transmission have shed light on males as the more important hosts, with the higher transmission potential of males being explained by the fact that they often harbour higher parasite loads than females. However, in some systems females are more heavily infected than males and may be responsible for driving infection under such circumstances. Using a wild population of common voles (Microtus arvalis), we showed that females were more frequently infected by the intestinal nematode Trichuris arvicolae than males (i.e. prevalence based on the presence of eggs in the faeces) and that females were shedding greater numbers of parasite eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) than male... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5418473 Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5418473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5379022&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22051399%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Garcia HA, Rodrigues AC, Martinkovic F, Minervino AH, Campaner M, Nunes VL, Paiva F, Hamilton PB, Teixeira MM Abstract Species of the subgenus Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) have been reported in cattle and other domestic and wild ruminants worldwide. A previous study in Brazil found at least four genotypes infecting cattle (Bos taurus), but only one in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). However, the small number of isolates examined from buffalo, all inhabiting nearby areas, has precluded evaluation of their diversity, host associations and geographical structure. To address these questions, we evaluated the genetic diversity and phylogeographical patterns of 25 isolates from water buffalo and 28 from cattle from four separate locations in Brazil and Venezuela. Multigene phylog... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5379022 Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5379022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5379019&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22051400%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pérez-Del-Olmo A, Morand S, Raga JA, Kostadinova A Abstract Abundance-occupancy and abundance-variance relationships are two of the most general macroecological patterns capturing essential fundamentals of the structuring of species distributions and are widely documented for free-living animal and plant species populations at different spatial scales. However, empirical data for parasites have been gathered using appropriate sampling designs only recently. We performed analyses across species of the variation in infection parameters and patterns of aggregation of the most widespread parasites in the marine sparid fish Boops boops across seven localities of two marine biogeographical regions, the North East Atlantic and the Mediterranean. We used a large dataset of multip... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5379019 Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5379019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5379018&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22051401%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we aimed to describe a host-specific structure for S. japonicum and its potential influencing factors. The results showed a significant genetic differentiation among hosts. Two factors, including sampling seasons and the number of miracidia genotyped per host, showed an effect on the genetic diversity of an infrapopulation through a univariable analysis but not a multivariable analysis. A possible scenario of clustered infection foci and the fact of multiple definitive host species, the latter of which is unique to S. japonicum compared with other schistosomes, were proposed to explain the observed results and practical implications for control strategies are recommended. PMID: 22051401 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5379018 Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5379018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5379024&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22036897%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pohl PC, Klafke GM, Carvalho DD, Martins JR, Daffre S, da Silva Vaz I, Masuda A Abstract ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are efflux transporters found in all organisms. These proteins are responsible for pumping xenobiotic and endogenous metabolites through extra- and intracellular membranes, thereby reducing cellular concentrations of toxic compounds. ABC transporters have been associated with drug resistance in several nematodes and parasitic arthropods. Here, the ability of ABC transporter inhibitors to enhance ivermectin (IVM) sensitivity was tested in larvae and adult females of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Larvae of susceptible and IVM-resistant tick populations were pre-exposed to sub-lethal doses of the ABC transporter inhibitors Cyclosporin A (CsA)... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5379024 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5379024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5379023&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22036898%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, we show that the MR on mononuclear phagocytic cells, which are plentiful in the skin, plays a significant role in internalising E/S material released by the invasive stages of the parasite which in turn modulates their production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the absence of the MR, antigen-specific CD4(+) cells are Th1 biased, suggesting that ligation of the MR by glycosylated E/S material released by schistosome larvae modulates the production of CD4(+) cell specific IFNγ. PMID: 22036898 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5379023 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5379023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5360528&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22019596%26dopt%3DAbstract This study demonstrates that components of the tegumental surface of F. hepatica can be defined using proteomic approaches, but also indicates the need to prevent vomiting if tegument secretions are to be characterised. PMID: 22019596 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5360528 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5360528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5296114&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21924269%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vas Z, Lefebvre L, Johnson KP, Reiczigel J, Rózsa L Abstract Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) are ectoparasites that reduce host life expectancy and sexual attractiveness. Their taxonomic richness varies considerably among their hosts. Previous studies have already explored some important factors shaping louse diversity. An unexplored potential correlate of louse taxonomic richness is host behavioural flexibility. In this comparative study, we examine the relationship between louse generic richness, innovative capabilities (as a proxy for behavioural flexibility), and brain size while controlling for host species diversity, phylogeny, body size and research effort. Using data for 108 avian families, we found a highly significant positive relationship between host innovative c... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5296114 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5296114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5296113&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21924270%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Li M, Shi SF, Brown CL, Yang TB Abstract In the present study, we examined the phylogeographical pattern of the monogenean, Mazocraeoides gonialosae, which parasitises the dotted gizzard shad (Konosirus punctatus) along the coast of China. Fragments of 756bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene were sequenced for 147 individuals from seven localities along the coast of China. Phylogenetic analysis revealed no significant genealogical clades of samples corresponding to sampling localities. Analyses of molecular variance and pairwise F(ST) suggested a high rate of gene flow and the lack of a predictable genetic structure between different populations of this parasite. Both neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analyses indicated a recent population e... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5296113 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5296113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5259478&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21924271%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brouat C, Tatard C, Machin A, Kane M, Diouf M, Bâ K, Duplantier JM Abstract Contrasting host and parasite population genetic structures can provide information about the population ecology of each species and the potential for local adaptation. Here, we examined the population genetic structure of the nematode Neoheligmonella granjoni at a regional scale in southeastern Senegal, using 11 microsatellite markers. Using the results previously obtained for the two main rodent species of the host community, Mastomys natalensis and Mastomys erythroleucus, we tested the hypothesis that the parasite population structure was mediated by dispersal levels of the most vagile host. The results showed similar genetic diversity levels between host and parasite populations, and consisten... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5259478 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5259478 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5228141&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21920365%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mukhopadhyay R, Mukherjee S, Mukherjee B, Naskar K, Mandal D, Decuypere S, Ostyn B, Prajapati VK, Sundar S, Dujardin JC, Roy S Abstract Recent clinical isolates of Leishmania donovani from the hyperendemic zone of Bihar were characterised in vitro in terms of their sensitivity towards sodium stibogluconate (SSG) in a macrophage (MΦ) culture system. The resulting half maximal effective concentration (EC(50)) values were compared with those of known sensitive isolates. Fifteen of the isolates showed decreased sensitivity towards SSG with an average EC(50) of 25.7±4.5μg/ml pentavalent antimony (SbV) (defined as antimony resistant (Sb-R)), whereas nine showed considerable sensitivity with an average EC(50) of 4.6±1.7μg/ml (defined as antimony sensitive (Sb-S)). Out of tho... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5228141 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5228141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5228140&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21920366%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Spear RC, Seto EY, Carlton E, Liang S, Remais JV, Zhong B, Qiu D Abstract Until recently, intensified efforts in China to suppress the transmission of Schistosoma japonicum relied principally on routine praziquantel treatment, extensive use of molluscicides and health education programs. These efforts, now supplemented by a broader range of control measures, have been quite successful in reducing the prevalence and intensity of human infection to very low levels. However, re-emergent transmission has occurred in formerly endemic areas of several provinces, signalling the need for more locally effective, integrated control strategies. We argue that these low but persistent levels of transmission also require important changes in both the tactics and strategy of disease surv... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5228140 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5228140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5217911&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21907205%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mazet M, Harijan RK, Kiema TR, Haapalainen AM, Morand P, Morales J, Bringaud F, Wierenga RK, Michels PA Abstract Thiolases are enzymes that remove an acetyl-coenzyme A group from acyl-CoA in the catabolic β-oxidation of fatty acids, or catalyse the reverse condensation reaction for anabolic processes such as the biosynthesis of sterols and ketone bodies. In humans, six homologous isoforms of thiolase have been described, differing from each other in sequence, oligomeric state, substrate specificity and subcellular localization. A bioinformatics analysis of parasite genomes, being (i) different species of African trypanosomes, (ii) Trypanosoma cruzi and (iii) Leishmania spp., using the six human sequences as queries, showed that the distribution of thiolases in human and e... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5217911 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5217911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5217910&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21907206%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Apte SH, Groves PL, Roddick JS, da Hora VP, Doolan DL Abstract Despite significant technological and conceptual advances over the last century, evaluation of the efficacy of anti-malarial vaccines or drugs continues to rely principally on direct microscopic visualisation of parasites on thick and/or thin Giemsa-stained blood smears. This requires technical expertise of the microscopist, is highly subjective and error-prone, and does not account for aberrations such as anaemia. Many published methods have shown that flow cytometric analysis of blood is a highly versatile method that can readily detect nucleic acid-stained parasitised red blood cells within cultured cell populations and in ex-vivo samples. However several impediments, including the difficulty in distinguishi... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5217910 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5217910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5217914&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21889507%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Karanis P, Aldeyarbi HM Abstract This overview discusses findings from culturing Cryptosporidium spp. in cell and axenic cultures as well as factors limiting the development of this parasite in cultivation systems during recent years. A systematic review is undertaken of findings regarding the life cycle of the parasite, taking into account physiological, biochemical and genetic aspects, in the hope that this attempt will facilitate future approaches to research and developments in the understanding of Cryptosporidium biology. PMID: 21889507 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5217914 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5217914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5217913&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21889508%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cupit PM, Steinauer ML, Tonnessen BW, Eric Agola L, Kinuthia JM, Mwangi IN, Mutuku MW, Mkoji GM, Loker ES, Cunningham C Abstract A vaccine against schistosomiasis would contribute significantly to reducing the 3-70 million disability-adjusted life years lost annually to the disease. Towards this end, inoculation with the large extracellular loop (EC-2) of Schistosoma mansoni tetraspanin-2 protein (Sm-TSP-2) has proved effective in reducing worm and egg burdens in S. mansoni-infected mice. The EC-2 loop of Schistosoma japonicum TSP-2, however, has been found to be highly polymorphic, perhaps diminishing the likelihood that this antigen can be used for vaccination against this species. Here, we examine polymorphism of the EC-2 of Sm-TSP-2 in genetically unique worms derived ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5217913 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5217913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5217912&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21889509%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fernández Robledo JA, Caler E, Matsuzaki M, Keeling PJ, Roos DS, Vasta GR Abstract Perkinsus marinus (Phylum Perkinsozoa) is a protozoan parasite that has devastated natural and farmed oyster populations in the USA, significantly affecting the shellfish industry and the estuarine environment. The other two genera in the phylum, Parvilucifera and Rastrimonas, are parasites of microeukaryotes. The Perkinsozoa occupies a key position at the base of the dinoflagellate branch, close to its divergence from the Apicomplexa, a clade that includes parasitic protista, many harbouring a relic plastid. Thus, as a taxon that has also evolved toward parasitism, the Perkinsozoa has attracted the attention of biologists interested in the evolution of this organelle, both in its ultrastru... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5217912 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5217912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174642&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21854780%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Balen J, Raso G, Li YS, Zhao ZY, Yuan LP, Williams GM, Luo XS, Shi MZ, Yu XL, Utzinger J, McManus DP Abstract Schistosomiasis japonica and soil-transmitted helminthiasis are endemic parasitic diseases in the People's Republic of China (PR China). As very few studies have reported on the distribution and interaction of multiple species helminth infections, we carried out a comparative study of households in a rural village and a peri-urban setting in the Dongting Lake area of Hunan province in November and December 2006 to determine the extent of single and multiple species infections, the underlying risk factors for infection, and the relationships with clinical manifestations and self-reported morbidity. In each household, stool samples were collected and subjected to the... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174642 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174641&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21855547%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ferguson JA, Koketsu W, Ninomiya I, Rossignol PA, Jacobson KC, Kent ML Abstract Multiple analytical techniques were used to evaluate the impact of multiple parasite species on the mortality of threatened juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) from the West Fork Smith River, Oregon, USA. We also proposed a novel parsimonious mathematical representation of macroparasite distribution, congestion rate, which (i) is easier to use than traditional models, and (ii) is based on Malthusian parameters rather than probability theory. Heavy infections of Myxobolus insidiosus (Myxozoa) and metacercariae of Nanophyetus salmincola and Apophallus sp. occurred in parr (subyearlings) from the lower mainstem of this river collected in 2007 and 2008. Smolts (yearlings) collected in 2007-... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174641 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140973&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21839081%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Detwiler JT, Criscione CD Abstract Cryptic aspects of parasite population biology, e.g., mating systems, are increasingly being inferred from polymorphic and co-dominant genetic markers such as microsatellite loci. Underlying the use of such co-dominant markers is the assumption of Mendelian inheritance. The failure to meet this assumption can lead to artifactual statistics and erroneous population inferences. Here, we illustrate the importance of testing the Mendelian segregation and assortment of genetic markers and demonstrate how field-collected samples can be utilised for this purpose. To examine the reproductive mode and mating system of hermaphroditic parasites, we developed microsatellites for the cestode, Oochoristica javaensis. Among loci, we found a bimodal dist... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140973 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5140973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140972&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21839082%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we analysed biochemical properties and phylogenetic relationships of the individual subunits. Despite the low sequence identity (average 26.5%), these subunit proteins conserved an α-helix-rich structural domain and the first introns inserted in each of the respective chromosomal genes were found to be orthologous to one another, suggesting their common evolutionary origin. The recombinant RS1 protein bound strongly to all of the FA analogs examined including 11-[(5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)amino]undecanoic acid (DAUDA), but not to 16-(9-anthroyloxy)palmitic acid (16-AP). The interactive binding between RS1 and FA analogs was specifically interfered with by the addition of non-fluorescent FA molecules or antibodies specific to the 150kDa protein. Conversely, the ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140972 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5140972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140974&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21835179%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nakao R, Kameda Y, Kouguchi H, Matsumoto J, Dang Z, Simon AY, Torigoe D, Sasaki N, Oku Y, Sugimoto C, Agui T, Yagi K Abstract Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe hepatic disorder caused by larval infection by the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. The course of parasitic development and host reactions are known to vary significantly among host species, and even among different inbred strains of mice. As reported previously, after oral administration of parasite eggs, DBA/2 (D2) mice showed a higher rate of cyst establishment and more advanced protoscolex development in the liver than C57BL/6 (B6) mice. These findings strongly suggest that the outcome of AE is affected by host genetic factor(s). In the present study, the genetic basis of such strain-specific dif... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140974 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5140974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140977&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21819989%26dopt%3DAbstract We present the functional and biochemical characterisation of this enzyme. We show, by RNA interference (RNAi), that cathepsin L-like activity that peaks during the slow feeding period of females is associated with IrCL1. Recombinant IrCL1 was expressed in bacteria and yeast. Activity profiling with both peptidyl and physiological protein substrates (haemoglobin and albumin) revealed that IrCL1 is an acidic peptidase with a very low optimum pH (3-4) being unstable above pH 5. This suggests an endo/lysosomal localisation that was confirmed by indirect fluorescence microscopy that immunolocalised IrCL1 inside the vesicles of digestive gut cells. Cleavage specificity determined by a positional scanning synthetic combinatorial library and inhibition profile indicated that IrCL1 has the ligand-... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140977 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5140977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140976&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21819990%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mai K, Smith NC, Feng ZP, Katrib M, Slapeta J, Slapetova I, Wallach MG, Luxford C, Davies MJ, Zhang X, Norton RS, Belli SI Abstract Apicomplexan parasites such as Eimeria maxima possess a resilient oocyst wall that protects them upon excretion in host faeces and in the outside world, allowing them to survive between hosts. The wall is formed from the contents of specialised organelles - wall-forming bodies - found in macrogametes of the parasites. The presence of dityrosine in the oocyst wall suggests that peroxidase-catalysed dityrosine cross-linking of tyrosine-rich proteins from wall-forming bodies forms a matrix that is a crucial component of oocyst walls. Bioinformatic analyses showed that one of these tyrosine-rich proteins, EmGAM56, is an intrinsically unstructured ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140976 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5140976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140975&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21827765%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Li Z, Liu G, Chen Y, Liu Y, Liu B, Su Z Abstract Immunosuppression associated with chronic helminth infections has been documented in many studies and regulatory T (Treg) cells have been shown to mediate the nematode-induced immunosuppression, but the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in the induction of Treg cell response and immunosuppression has not yet been fully determined. We analysed the response and function of DCs in mesenteric lymph node (MLNs) of mice infected with a gastrointestinal nematode, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, and observed a substantial expansion of DCs in MLNs following the infection. The CD11c(+) DCs in MLNs of infected mice showed reduced expression of co-stimulatory molecules CD40, CD86 and MHC-II, and production of inflammatory cytokines IL-12 and IL-... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140975 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5140975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097416&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21802422%26dopt%3DAbstract This study revealed that the Type 12 lineage accounts for 46.7% (79/169) of isolates and is dominant in wildlife of North America. No clonal Type I strain was identified among these wildlife isolates. These results suggest that T. gondii strains in wildlife from North America have limited diversity, with the occurrence of only a few major clonal types. PMID: 21802422 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097416 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5097416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5049966&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21763695%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kanobana K, Praet N, Kabwe C, Dorny P, Lukanu P, Madinga J, Mitashi P, Verwijs M, Lutumba P, Polman K Cysticercosis results from tissue infection with the larval stage of the pig tapeworm Taenia solium. Infection of the brain may cause neurocysticercosis, the most frequent cause of acquired epilepsy in developing countries. Information on human cysticercosis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is scarce and outdated. We believe this is the first reported study on human cysticercosis and epilepsy in a village community of DRC. The proportion of villagers seropositive by ELISA for T. solium circulating antigen was 21.6%, the highest figure reported to date. The adjusted prevalence of active epilepsy in the community was 12.7 in 1,000. PMID: 21763695 [PubMed - as suppli... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5049966 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5049966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5000735&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21723868%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we have exploited bioinformatics and proteomic approaches to identify new Giardia basal body proteins and confocal microscopy to confirm their localisation in interphase trophozoites. This approach identified 75 homologs of conserved basal body proteins in the genome including 65 not previously known to be associated with Giardia basal bodies. Thirteen proteins were confirmed to co-localise with centrin to the Giardia basal bodies. We also demonstrate that most basal body proteins localise to additional cytoskeletal structures in interphase trophozoites. This might help to explain the roles of the four pairs of flagella and Giardia-specific organelles in motility and differentiation. A deeper understanding of the composition of the Giardia basal bodies will contribute insigh... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5000735 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5000735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5000737&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21722645%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kumar B, Chaubey S, Shah P, Tanveer A, Charan M, Siddiqi MI, Habib S The plastid of Plasmodium falciparum, the apicoplast, performs metabolic functions essential to the parasite. Various reactions in the plastid require the assembly of [Fe-S] prosthetic groups on participating proteins as well as the reductant activity of ferredoxin that is converted from its apo-form by the assembly of [Fe-S] clusters inside the apicoplast. The [Fe-S] assembly pathway involving sulphur mobilising Suf proteins has been predicted to function in the apicoplast with one component (PfSufB) encoded by the plastid genome itself. We demonstrate the ATPase activity of recombinant P. falciparum nuclear-encoded SufC and its localisation in the apicoplast. Further, an internal region of apicoplast SufB w... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5000737 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5000737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5000736&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21722646%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Opperdoes FR, De Jonckheere JF, Tielens AG The completion of the genome project for Naegleria gruberi provides a unique insight into the metabolic capacities of an organism, for which there is an almost complete lack of experimental data. The metabolism of Naegleria seems to be extremely versatile, as can be expected for a free-living amoeboflagellate, but although considered to be fully aerobic, its genome also predicts important anaerobic traits. Other predictions are that carbohydrates are oxidised to carbon dioxide and water when oxygen is not limiting and that in the absence of oxygen the end-products will be succinate, acetate and minor quantities of ethanol and d-lactate. The hybrid mitochondrion/hydrogenosome has both cytochromes and an [Fe] hydrogenase, but seems to l... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5000736 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5000736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5000740&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21712042%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Soldánová M, Kostadinova A High recruitment rates of multiple species and hierarchical competition are the keys to a competitive exclusion model of community assembly in larval trematode communities in molluscs. Eutrophic environments provide conditions for accelerating trematode transmission and this would increase the strength of interspecific interactions. To test these predictions, we provide the first known assessment for a pulmonate snail host, and for highly productive aquatic environments, of the rates of colonisation and extinction at the level of individual snail host patches, of a large guild of trematode species. Using a uniquely large dataset from a relatively long-term mark-recapture study of Lymnaea stagnalis in six eutrophic fishponds in central Europe, we de... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5000740 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5000740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5000739&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21712043%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lew-Tabor AE, Kurscheid S, Barrero R, Gondro C, Moolhuijzen PM, Rodriguez Valle M, Morgan JA, Covacin C, Bellgard MI Knowledge of cattle tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus; Acari: Ixodidae) molecular and cellular pathways has been hampered by the lack of an annotated genome. In addition, most of the tick expressed sequence tags (ESTs) available to date consist of ∼50% unassigned sequences without predicted functions. The most common approach to address this has been the application of RNA interference (RNAi) methods to investigate genes and their pathways. This approach has been widely adopted in tick research despite minimal knowledge of the tick RNAi pathway and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) uptake mechanisms. A strong knockdown phenotype of adult female ticks had pre... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5000739 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5000739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5000738&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21718698%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Falk BG, Luke Mahler D, Perkins SL Malaria parasites in the genus Plasmodium have been classified primarily on the basis of differences in morphology. These single-celled organisms often lack distinguishing morphological features, which can encumber both species delimitation and identification. Six saurian malaria parasites have been described from the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. All six infect lizards in the genus Anolis, but only two of these parasites can be distinguished using morphology. The remaining four species overlap in morphology and geography, and cannot be consistently identified using traditional methods. We compared a morphological approach with a molecular, phylogenetic approach in assessing the taxonomy of these parasites. We surveyed for blood parasites f... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5000738 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5000738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953864&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21683082%26dopt%3DAbstract This study supports the existence of two sister clades of avian Haemoproteus in accord with the subgeneric classification of avian hemoproteids. Description of H. iwa from Galapagos Fregata minor is given based on morphology of blood stages and segments of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, which can be used for identification. This study shows that hippoboscid flies warrant more attention as vectors of avian Haemoproteus spp., particularly in marine and coastal environments. PMID: 21683082 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953864 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4953864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953861&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21683704%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: El-Abdellati A, De Graef J, Van Zeveren A, Donnan A, Skuce P, Walsh T, Wolstenholme A, Tait A, Vercruysse J, Claerebout E, Geldhof P Ivermectin (IVM) resistance is an emerging problem for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle such as Cooperia oncophora and Ostertagia ostertagi. Although there is still a poor understanding of the molecular basis of macrocyclic lactone (ML)-resistance, it is clear that IVM exerts its activity by binding to glutamate-gated chloride (GluCl) channels within the parasite's neuromuscular system. One of the GluCl genes (avr-14) encodes, via alternative splicing, two subunits, AVR-14A and AVR-14B; the latter is suggested to be the main target for IVM. The genomic DNA (gDNA) sequence of avr-14 in C. oncophora contains 21 exons separated by... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953861 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4953861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953865&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21683081%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wilkinson TJ, Rock J, Whiteley NM, Ovcharenko MO, Ironside JE Microsporidia of the genus Dictyocoela are parasites of gammarid amphipod Crustacea. They typically exhibit low virulence and efficient vertical transmission and at least some strains are capable of feminising their hosts. Sequencing of a region of the 16S rDNA of Dictyocoela spp. from various gammarid host species and localities in Europe and northern Asia indicates that Dictyocoela is genetically diverse and that different strains predominate in different host species. However, the presence of intermediate sequences casts doubt upon previous attempts to describe Dictyocoela spp. on the basis of rDNA divergence alone. Phylogenetic analysis provides little support for coevolution between gammarids and Dictyocoela. F... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953865 Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4953865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953863&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21683702%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cotton JA, Beatty JK, Buret AG Giardia is a protozoan parasite of the small intestine, and a leading cause of diarrhoeal disease worldwide in a variety of animals, including humans. The host-parasite interaction and pathophysiological processes of giardiasis remain incompletely understood. Current research suggests that Giardia-induced diarrhoeal disease is mediated by small intestinal malabsorption and maldigestion, chloride hypersecretion and increased rates of small intestinal transit. Small intestinal malabsorption and maldigestion results from the CD8+ lymphocyte-induced diffuse shortening of brush border microvilli. Activation of CD8+ lymphocytes occurs secondary to small intestinal barrier dysfunction, which results from heightened rates of enterocyte apoptosis and disr... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953863 Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4953863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953862&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21683703%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Leung TL, Poulin R Animals living in colonies or collectives composed of highly-related individuals often produce morphs that are physically and behaviourally specialised to perform specific tasks. Because such morphs are often sterile, their production represents a fitness cost for the colony and there should be an optimal ratio of the numbers of sterile specialists and reproductive members that may be adjustable to environmental conditions. Trematode parasites undergo asexual multiplication within their snail intermediate host, resulting in large numbers of clonal stages known as rediae or sporocysts, depending on the trematode species. In areas with high prevalences of infection, the host can be infected by multiple species, which can lead to intense competition for limited... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953862 Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4953862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953860&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21683705%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we investigated the expression of putative drug transporter molecules, P-glycoproteins (Pgps), in Teladorsagia circumcincta, the predominant parasitic nematode species of sheep in the UK and the major anthelmintic resistant species. Utilising a degenerate PCR approach, 11 partial Pgp sequences were identified. Constitutive differences in gene expression between an IVM-susceptible (MTci2) and a multidrug-resistant (MTci5) isolate were determined for 10 of the Pgps using the ΔΔCt TaqMan® real-time PCR method. Gene expression differences were particularly marked in one of these genes, namely Tci-pgp-9. In the MTci5 isolate, statistically significant increases in Tci-pgp-9 expression, at the mRNA level, were observed across all life-cycle stages and most notably in eggs (55-f... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953860 Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4953860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4905518&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21624371%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pizzatto L, Shine R Invasive species may transmit novel pathogens to native taxa, and lacking a history of coevolutionary interactions with the pathogen, the new hosts may be severely affected. Cane toads (Bufo marinus) were introduced to Australia in 1935, bringing with them a lungworm (Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) not found in Australian frogs. Previous studies suggest that most frog species are unaffected by this parasite, but one tree-frog (Litoria caerulea) can harbour high numbers of lungworm. More detailed laboratory studies confirm and extend the earlier results on L. caerulea and show that Rhabdias infection severely depresses the viability of metamorphs of an allied tree-frog species, Litoria splendida. Parasitic larvae infected both of these two closely related tr... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4905518 Mon, 16 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4905518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4855765&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21570981%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rodriguez-Vivas RI, Trees AJ, Rosado-Aguilar JA, Villegas-Perez SL, Hodgkinson JE There have been few, if any, studies of arthropod field populations quantifying the kinetics of evolution of phenotypic and genotypic resistance to chemicals in response to the presence or absence of selection pressure. A prospective intervention study was undertaken over 2years in Mexico to measure changes in resistance phenotype and genotype in the presence or absence of pyrethroid selection pressure on field populations of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks on 11 farms with varying degrees of pyrethroid resistance. The resistance phenotype was evaluated by bioassay in a larval packet test expressed as the resistance factor (RF) derived from probit analysis of dose mortality regressions,... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4855765 Mon, 09 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4855765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4855766&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21569775%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cribb TH, Adlard RD, Hayward CJ, Bott NJ, Ellis D, Evans D, Nowak BF Aporocotylids (fish blood flukes) are emerging as pathogens of fishes in both marine and freshwater aquaculture. Efforts to control these parasites are hampered by a lack of life cycle information. Here we report on the life cycle of Cardicola forsteri, which is considered a significant pathogen in southern bluefin tuna, Thunnus maccoyi, ranched in South Australia. We surveyed polychaetes, bivalves and gastropods from sites close to tuna pontoons. Infections consistent with the Aporocotylidae were found in terebellid polychaetes, a single Longicarpus modestus and five individuals of Reterebella aloba. All infections were comprised of hundreds of sporocysts in the body cavity of the host, each filled with deve... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4855766 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4855766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4855767&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21554884%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McVeigh P, Mair GR, Novozhilova E, Day A, Zamanian M, Marks NJ, Kimber MJ, Day TA, Maule AG Here we report the identification of a new family of helminth neuropeptides with members in both nematodes and flatworms, and include preliminary cell biological and functional characterisation of one of the peptides from the trematode parasite of humans, Schistosoma mansoni. Bioinformatics and Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE)-PCR were used to identify the complete S. mansoni neuropeptide precursor gene Sm-npp-1, which encodes three pentapeptides bearing the motif (A/G)FVR(I/L).NH(2). Similar peptides were identified in three other flatworm species and in 15 nematode species. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunocytochemical (ICC) analyses showed that Sm-npp-1 is constitutively expr... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4855767 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4855767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803624&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21550346%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we report co-expression of enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) in Eimeria tenella transfected with two double-cassette expression vectors, pMIC-EYFP/ACT-RFP and pMIC-EYFP/ACTss-RFP. The results showed that under regulation of the mic1 promoter, EYFP was expressed in sporulated oocysts but not in unsporulated ones, while under regulation of the actin promoter RFP was expressed in both forms. We found that the signal peptide of Toxoplasma gondii dense granule protein 8 (GRA8) located the RFP expression to the parasitophorous vacuoles of the parasites, the margins of the unsporulated oocysts and the cavities of the sporocysts. The feasibility of co-expression of exogenous proteins in E. tenella is important for the development of transge... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803624 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803623&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21550347%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Elsworth B, Wasmuth J, Blaxter M Nematode parasites are of major importance in human health and agriculture, and free-living species deliver essential ecosystem services. The genomics revolution has resulted in the production of many datasets of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a phylogenetically wide range of nematode species, but these are not easily compared. NEMBASE4 presents a single portal into extensively functionally annotated, EST-derived transcriptomes from over 60 species of nematodes, including plant and animal parasites and free-living taxa. Using the PartiGene suite of tools, we have assembled the publicly available ESTs for each species into a high-quality set of putative transcripts. These transcripts have been translated to produce a protein sequence resour... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803623 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803625&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21540032%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Song S, Shao R, Atwell R, Barker S, Vankan D We inferred the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships in ticks, which were identified morphologically as Ixodes holocyclus and Ixodes cornuatus, from mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) and nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences. We obtained COX1 (640bp) and ITS2 (527-568bp) sequences from 429 ticks from 49 localities in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Our analyses show that there are two species of Ixodes in eastern Australia that cause paralysis in dogs and other mammals: I. holocyclus and I. cornuatus. Further, we conclude that the morphological criteria used to differentiate female I. holocyclus and I. cornuatus are equivocal but I. holocyclus can be distingui... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803625 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803637&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21447338%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Awasthi G, Prasad GB, Das A Inferring the origin and dispersal of the chloroquine-resistant (CQR) malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is of academic and public health importance. The Pfcrt gene of P. falciparum is widely known as the CQR gene and two major haplotypes of this gene (CVIET and SVMNT) occur widely across CQR-endemic regions of the globe. In India, studies to date of the Pfcrt gene have indicated the widespread prevalence of the SVMNT haplotype (prevalent in the South America and Papua New Guinea), whereas the CVIET haplotype, primarily found in southeast Asia, was not detected at a high frequency in India. This distribution pattern of the two most common CQR-Pfcrt haplotypes in India is quite surprising. Thus, in order to understand probable evolutionary and ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803637 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803636&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21447339%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Calixto-Gálvez M, Romero-Díaz M, García-Muñoz A, Salas-Casas A, Pais-Morales J, Galván IJ, Orozco E, Rodríguez MA Transcription initiation is the most regulated stage for the control of gene expression. This event requires that a complex of proteins called transcription factors bind to DNA through cis-regulatory elements located in the gene promoters. However, little is known about transcription regulation in Entamoeba histolytica, the protozoan parasite responsible for human amoebiasis. Some genes encoding for proteins involved in the parasite pathogenicity contain specific upstream regulatory elements (URE1-URE5) in their promoters. Here, we identified the protein that specifically binds to the URE1 sequence (EhURE1BP). This protein contains five SNase domains and one ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803636 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803635&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21447340%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Paim RM, Araújo RN, Soares AC, Lemos LC, Tanaka AS, Gontijo NF, Lehane MJ, Pereira MH Triatomines are haematophagous insects in all post-embryonic life stages. They are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Their vectorial ability is influenced by their feeding performance, which varies greatly amongst species. Recent work showed that inhibition of the coagulation process in the anterior midgut (crop) environment considerably influences the blood meal size. In this work, we performed a comparative study of the level of anticoagulant activity in the saliva and crop contents of three triatomine species -Triatoma infestans, Triatoma brasiliensis and Rhodnius prolixus - and correlated this with their feeding performance on live hosts. Moreover, the ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803635 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803634&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21447341%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chaston JM, Dillman AR, Shapiro-Ilan DI, Bilgrami AL, Gaugler R, Hopper KR, Adams BJ The nematode Steinernema carpocapsae infects and kills many pest insects in agro-ecosystems and is commonly used in biocontrol of these pests. Growth of the nematodes prior to distribution for biocontrol commonly results in deterioration of traits that are essential for nematode persistence in field applications. To better understand the mechanisms underlying trait deterioration of the efficacy of natural parasitism in entomopathogenic nematodes, we explored the maintenance of fitness related traits including reproductive capacity, heat tolerance, virulence to insects and 'tail standing' (formerly called nictation) among laboratory-cultured lines derived from natural, randomly mating populatio... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803634 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803632&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21447343%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vince JE, Tull D, Landfear S, McConville MJ Leishmania parasites experience variable nutrient levels as they cycle between the extracellular promastigote stage in the sandfly vector and the obligate intracellular amastigote stage in the mammalian host. Here we show that the surface expression of three Leishmania mexicana hexose and myo-inositol transporters is regulated in both a stage-specific and nutrient-dependent manner. GFP-chimeras of functionally active hexose transporters, LmGT2 and LmGT3, and the myo-inositol transporter, MIT, were primarily expressed in the cell body plasma membrane in rapidly dividing promastigote stages. However MIT-GFP was mostly rerouted to the multivesicular tubule (MVT)-lysosome when promastigotes reached stationary phase growth and all three n... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803632 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803631&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21447344%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ayuk MA, Suttiprapa S, Rinaldi G, Mann VH, Lee CM, Brindley PJ RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by short hairpin-RNA (shRNA) expressing plasmids can induce specific and long-term knockdown of specific mRNAs in eukaryotic cells. To develop a vector-based RNAi model for Schistosoma mansoni, the schistosome U6 gene promoter was employed to drive expression of shRNA targeting reporter firefly luciferase. An upstream region of a U6 gene predicted to contain the promoter was amplified from genomic DNA of S. mansoni. A shRNA construct driven by the predicted U6 promoter targeting luciferase was assembled and cloned into plasmid pXL-Bac II, the construct termed pXL-BacII_SmU6-shLuc. Luciferase expression in transgenic fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells was significantly reduced 96h following ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803631 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803630&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21514300%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mercado-Curiel RF, Palmer GH, Guerrero FD, Brayton KA Arthropods transmit important infectious diseases of humans and animals. Importantly, replication and the development of pathogen infectivity are tightly linked to vector feeding on the mammalian host; thus analysis of the transcriptomes of both vector and pathogen during feeding is fundamental to understanding transmission. Using Anaplasma marginale infection of Rhipicephalusmicroplus as the experimental model, we tested three hypotheses exploring the temporal and organ-specific nature of the tick midgut and salivary gland transcriptomes during feeding and in response to infection. Numerous R. microplus genes were regulated in response to feeding and were differentially regulated between the midgut and salivary gland; addi... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803630 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803629&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21515276%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lin SS, Blume M, von Ahsen N, Gross U, Bohne W Apicomplexan parasites undergo metabolic shifts in adaptation to environmental changes. Here, we investigate the metabolic requirements which are responsible for ATP homeostasis in the extracellular stage of Toxoplasma gondii. Surprisingly, we found that freshly released tachyzoites are able to maintain a constant ATP level during the first hour of extracellular incubation without the acquisition of external carbon sources. We further demonstrated that the extent of gliding motility and that of host cell invasion is independent from the availability of external carbon sources during this one hour extracellular period. The ATP level and the invasion efficiency of extracellular parasites were severely decreased by treatment with the... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803629 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803628&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21515277%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ogedengbe JD, Hanner RH, Barta JR Partial (∼780bp) mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and near complete nuclear 18S rDNA (∼1,780bp) sequences were directly compared to assess their relative usefulness as markers for species identification and phylogenetic analysis of coccidian parasites (phylum Apicomplexa). Fifteen new COI partial sequences were obtained using two pairs of new primers from rigorously characterised (sensu Reid and Long, 1979) laboratory strains of seven Eimeria spp. infecting chickens as well as three additional sequences from cloned laboratory strains of Toxoplasma gondii (ME49 and GT1) and Neospora caninum (NC1) that were used as outgroup taxa for phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenetic analyses based on COI sequences yielded robust support f... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803628 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803627&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21515278%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dubey JP, Rajendran C, Ferreira LR, Martins J, Kwok OC, Hill DE, Villena I, Zhou H, Su C, Jones JL Little information is available concerning the presence of viable Toxoplasma gondii in tissues of goats worldwide. In the present study, hearts of 234 goats obtained from a local USA grocery store were examined for T. gondii infection. Blood clot or fluid removed from each heart was tested for antibodies to T. gondii by using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 125 (53.4%) of 234 goats, with titers of 1:5 in 20, 1:10 in 44, 1:20 in 16, 1:40 in five, 1:160 in five, 1:320 in five, and 1:640 or higher in 30goats. Hearts of 112 goats (46 goats <1:5, and 66 goats 1:10 or higher) were used for isolation of viable T. gondii by bioassays in mic... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803627 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803626&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21515279%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we report the presence of a sucrose transport system in Leishmania donovani promastigotes. The kinetics of sucrose uptake in promastigotes are biphasic in nature with both high affinity K(m) (K(m) of ∼75μM) and low affinity K(m) (K(m)∼1.38mM) components. By contrast the virulent amastigotes take up sucrose via a low affinity process with a K(m) of 2.5mM. The transport of sucrose into promastigotes leads to rapid intracellular acidification, as indicated by changes in the fluorescence of the pH indicator 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(6) Carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). In experiments with right side-out plasma membrane vesicles derived from L. donovani promastigotes, an artificial pH gradient was able to drive the active accumulation of sucrose. These data are consistent with ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803626 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803633&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21447342%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Morga B, Renault T, Faury N, Chollet B, Arzul I Bonamia ostreae is a protozoan, affiliated to the order Haplosporidia and to the phylum Cercozoa. This parasite is intracellular and infects haemocytes, cells notably involved in oyster defence mechanisms. Bonamiosis due to the parasite B. ostreae is a disease affecting the flat oyster, Ostrea edulis. The strategies used by protozoan parasites to circumvent host defence mechanisms remain largely unknown in marine bivalve molluscs. In the present work, in vitro experiments were carried out in order to study the interactions between haemocytes from O. edulis and purified parasite, B. ostreae. We monitored cellular and molecular responses of oyster haemocytes by light microscopy, flow cytometry and real-time PCR 1, 2, 4 and 8h p.i. ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803633 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4637931&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21426907%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schwarz A, Juarez JA, Richards J, Rath B, Machaca VQ, Castro YE, Málaga ES, Levy K, Gilman RH, Bern C, Verastegui M, Levy MZ Insecticide-impregnated nets can kill triatomine bugs, but it remains unclear whether they can protect against Chagas disease transmission. In a field trial in Quequeña, Peru, sentinel guinea pigs placed in intervention enclosures covered by deltamethrin-treated nets showed significantly lower antibody responses to saliva of Triatoma infestans compared with animals placed in pre-existing control enclosures. Our results strongly suggest that insecticide-treated nets prevent triatomine bites and can thereby protect against infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Anti-salivary immunoassays are powerful new tools to evaluate intervention strategies against Chaga... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4637931 Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4637931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4637932&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21397606%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rose H, Wall R Understanding the spatial scale and temporal pattern of disease incidence is a fundamental prerequisite for the development of appropriate management and intervention strategies. It is particularly critical, given the need to understand the elevated risks linked to climate change, to allow the most likely changes in the distribution of parasites and disease vectors to be predicted under a range of climate change scenarios. Using statistical models, the spatial distribution and climatic correlates of a range of parasites and diseases have been mapped previously, but their development into dynamic, predictive tools is less common. The aim of the work described here, was to use a species distribution model to characterise the environmental determinants of the month... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4637932 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4637932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4637934&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21396371%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jones LA, Houdijk JG, Sakkas P, Bruce AD, Mitchell M, Knox DP, Kyriazakis I Many mammals exhibit a periparturient relaxation of previously established immune responses (PPRI) to gastrointestinal nematodes culminating in increased worm burdens. It has been suggested that the extent of PPRI may have a nutritional basis as it is considerably augmented when protein supply is scarce. Subsequent studies have shown that increased dietary protein intake can ameliorate this phenomenon. However, this effect is often confounded with increased food intake and thus increased energy levels. Herein, we aimed to dissect the effects of protein and energy nutrition on the immune status and resistance to re-infection with gastrointestinal nematodes in the periparturient host. The lactating, Nipp... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4637934 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4637934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4637933&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21396372%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ford AF, Schall JJ Vertebrate hosts of malaria parasites (Plasmodium) often harbour two or more genetically distinct clones of a single species, and interaction among these co-existing clones can play an important role in Plasmodium biology. However, how relative clonal proportions vary over time in a host is still poorly known. Experimental mixed-clone infections of the lizard malaria parasite, Plasmodium mexicanum, were followed in its natural host, the western fence lizard using microsatellite markers to determine the relative proportions of two to five co-existing clones over time (2 to 3 months). Results for two markers, and two PCR primer pairs for one of those, matched very closely, supporting the efficacy of the method. Of the 54 infections, 67% displayed stable relati... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4637933 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4637933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525256&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21329691%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Herrmann KK, Poulin R The typical three-host life cycle of most trematodes creates transmission challenges for which a variety of adaptations have evolved to increase the probability of transmission. Some species can abbreviate their life cycle via progenesis, the precocious maturation of the parasite in the second intermediate host resulting in the production of eggs through self-fertilization without requiring a definitive host. Adoption of the progenetic life cycle may be a conditional strategy in response to different environmental cues related to low probability of transmission to the definitive host. Using high water temperature and/or limited diet as experimental stressors, we tested the effect of body condition and life span of the fish second intermediate host on facu... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525256 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525255&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21329692%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dion S, Germon S, Guiton R, Ducournau C, Dimier-Poisson I Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan pathogen that causes abortion in cattle. We studied how the interaction between murine conventional dendritic cells or macrophages and N. caninum influences the generation of cell-mediated immunity against the parasite. We first explored the invasion and survival ability of N. caninum in dendritic cells and macrophages. We observed that protozoa rapidly invaded and proliferated into these two cell populations. We then investigated how Neospora-exposed macrophages or dendritic cells distinguish between viable and non-viable (heat-killed tachyzoites and antigenic extract) parasites. Viable tachyzoites and antigenic extract, but not killed parasites, altered the phenotype of i... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525255 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525254&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21329693%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yamada T, Tomita T, Weiss LM, Orlofsky A Host defense to the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is critically dependent on CD8(+) T cells, whose effector functions include the induction of apoptosis in target cells following the secretion of granzyme proteases. Here we demonstrate that T. gondii induces resistance of host cells to apoptosis induced by recombinant granzyme B. Granzyme B induction of caspase-independent cytochrome c release was blocked in T. gondii-infected cells. Prevention of apoptosis could not be attributed to altered expression of the Bcl-2 family of apoptotic regulatory proteins, but was instead associated with reduced granzyme B-mediated, caspase-independent cleavage of procaspase 3 to the p20 form in T. gondii-infected cells, as well as reduced gran... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525254 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525253&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21329694%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kantzoura V, Kouam MK, Feidas H, Teofanova D, Theodoropoulos G Maximum entropy ecological niche modelling was utilized to predict the geographic range for fluke genotypes and haplotypes in south-eastern Europe, using the Maxent program. The lowest (0.832) and the highest (0.947) area under the curve values were observed in the models for the haplotypes CtCmt1 and CtCmt2.2, respectively. Precipitation and temperature contribute equally to model building of the genotypes based on the 28S rDNA gene. In regard to the mtDNA gene region, precipitation is the most important factor in modelling the CtCmt1 haplotype range, while temperature appears to be the most important factor in modelling the CtCmt2.1 and CtCmt2.2 haplotype ranges. The highest level of probability for the geographi... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525253 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525252&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21329695%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Moné Y, Ribou AC, Cosseau C, Duval D, Théron A, Mitta G, Gourbal B The co-evolution between hosts and parasites involves huge reciprocal selective pressures on both protagonists. However, relatively few reports have evaluated the impact of these reciprocal pressures on the molecular determinants at the core of the relevant interaction, such as the factors influencing parasitic virulence and host resistance. Here, we address this question in a host-parasite model that allows co-evolution to be monitored in the field: the interaction between the mollusk, Biomphalaria glabrata, and its trematode parasite, Schistosoma mansoni. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the hemocytes of B. glabrata are known to play a crucial role in killing S. mansoni. Therefore, the parasite mus... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525252 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525257&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21320505%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Khan A, Dubey JP, Su C, Ajioka JW, Rosenthal BM, Sibley LD Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread parasite of animals that causes zoonotic infections in humans. Previous studies have revealed a strongly clonal population structure in North America and Europe, while strains from South America are genetically separate and more diverse. However, the composition within North America has been questioned by recent descriptions of genetically more variable strains from this region. Here, we examined an expanded set of isolates using sequenced-based phylogenetic and population analyses to re-evaluate the population structure of T. gondii in North America. Our findings reveal that isolates previously defined by atypical restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns fall into two discret... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525257 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525258&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21315074%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Oguike MC, Betson M, Burke M, Nolder D, Stothard JR, Kleinschmidt I, Proietti C, Bousema T, Ndounga M, Tanabe K, Ntege E, Culleton R, Sutherland CJ It has been proposed that ovale malaria in humans is caused by two closely related but distinct species of malaria parasite, Plasmodium ovale curtisi and Plasmodium ovale wallikeri. It was recently shown that these two parasite types are sympatric at the country level. However, it remains possible that localised geographic, temporal or ecological barriers exist within endemic countries which prevent recombination between the genomes of the two species. Here, using conventional and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) methods specifically designed to discriminate P. o. curtisi and P. o. wallikeri, it is shown that both species are pres... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525258 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470553&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21310158%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rohoušová I, Hostomská J, Vlková M, Kobets T, Lipoldová M, Volf P Under laboratory conditions, hosts exposed twice to sand fly saliva are protected against severe leishmaniasis. However, people in endemic areas are exposed to the vector over a long term and may experience sand fly-free periods. Therefore, we exposed mice long- or short-term to Phlebotomus duboscqi bites, followed by Leishmania major infection either immediately or after a sand fly-free period. We showed that protection against leishmaniasis is limited to short-term exposure to sand flies immediately before infection. Our results may explain the persistence of leishmaniasis in endemic areas and should be taken into account when designing anti-Leishmania vaccines based on sand fly saliva. PMID: 21310158... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470553 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470552&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21310159%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bueno-Silva M, Boeger WA, Pie MR We investigated how Gyrodactylus corydori Bueno-Silva & Boeger, 2009 exploits two sympatric host species, Corydoras paleatus (Jenyns, 1842) and Corydoras ehrhardti Steindachner, 1910. Specimens of G. corydori were collected from the Piraquara and Miringuava Rivers, State of Paraná, Brazil, between 2005 and 2006. A total of 167 parasites was measured from both host species. Nine morphometric features of the haptoral sclerites were measured and analyzed by discriminant analysis, cluster analysis and multivariate analysis of variance. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) (∼740 bp) and the rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS) (∼1200 bp) of G. corydori were sequenced. Bayesian and parsimony analyses of COI reco... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470552 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470551&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21310160%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Katzer F, Lizundia R, Ngugi D, Blake D, McKeever D The tick-borne protozoan parasite Theileria parva is the causal agent of East Coast Fever (ECF), a severe lymphoproliferative disease of cattle in eastern, central and southern Africa. The life cycle of T. parva is predominantly haploid, with a brief diploid stage occurring in the tick vector that involves meiotic recombination. Resolved genetic studies of T. parva are currently constrained by the lack of a genome-wide high-definition genetic map of the parasite. We undertook a genetic cross of two cloned isolates of T. parva to construct such a map from 35 recombinant progeny, using a genome-wide panel of 79 variable number of tandem repeat markers. Progeny were established by in vitro cloning of cattle lymphocytes after infe... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470551 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470555&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21296081%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen HW, Shao KT, Liu CW, Lin WH, Liu WC A robust food web is one which suffers few secondary extinctions after primary species losses. While recent research has shown that a food web with parasitism is less robust than one without, it still remains unclear whether the reduction in robustness is due to changes in network complexity or unique characteristics associated with parasitism. Here, using several published food webs, simulation experiments with different food web models and extinction scenarios were conducted to elucidate how such reduction can be achieved. Our results show that, regardless of changes in network complexity and preferential parasitism, the reduction in food web robustness is mainly due to the life cycle constraint of parasites. Our findings further demo... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470555 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470554&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21296082%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Faso C, Hehl AB The secretory transport capacity of Giardia trophozoites is perfectly adapted to the changing environment in the small intestine of the host and is able to deploy essential protective surface coats as well as molecules which act on epithelia. These lumen-dwelling parasites take up nutrients by bulk endocytosis through peripheral vesicles or by receptor-mediated transport. The environmentally resistant cyst form is quiescent but poised for activation following stomach passage. Its versatility and fidelity notwithstanding, the giardial trafficking systems appear to be the product of a general secondary reduction process geared towards minimization of all components and machineries identified to date. Since membrane transport is directly linked to organelle biogen... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470554 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470554 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470556&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21295037%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, the effect of changing patterns of temperature variation on the dynamics of I. ricinus ticks and the diseases they transmit may depend on the cumulative temperature over the year and will therefore vary across different locations. The results also indicate that diapause mechanisms have an important influence on seasonal patterns of tick activity and require further study. PMID: 21295037 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470556 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4400121&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21256849%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, curcumin may be an effective chemopreventive agent against oxidative and nitrative stress derived from praziquantel treatment during O. viverrini infection via induction of Nrf2 and suppression of NF-B-mediated pathways. Nrf2 may also be a novel therapeutic target for not only parasitic diseases but other types of inflammation-mediated diseases. PMID: 21256849 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4400121 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4400121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4400123&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21255576%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we report that a monoclonal Ab against the R13 peptide, called mAb 17.2, and its single chain Fv fragment (scFv), C5, caused apoptosis of murine adult cardiac HL-1 cells, and this effect was inhibited by pre-incubation with the β-blocker, propranolol. In addition, apoptosis induced by mAb 17.2 might involve the mitochondrial pathway evidenced by an increase in pro-apoptotic molecule, Bax/ anti-apoptotic molecule, Bcl(XL,) mRNA levels. HL-1 cells also underwent apoptosis after incubation with nine of 23 IgGs from cChHD patients (39.1%) that presented reactivity against R13 peptide and 1-AR. The apoptotic effect caused by these IgGs was partially abolished by pre-incubation with R13 peptide or propranolol, suggesting the involvement of the C-terminal end of ribosomal P protei... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4400123 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4400123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4400122&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21255577%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Duerr HP, Raddatz G, Eichner M Control of onchocerciasis in Africa is currently based on annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) which has been assumed to be not efficient enough to bring about elimination. However, elimination has recently been reported to have been achieved by CDTI alone in villages of Senegal and Mali, reviving debate on the eradicability of onchocerciasis in Africa. We investigate the eradicability of onchocerciasis by examining threshold shifts and breakpoints predicted by a stochastic transmission model that has been fitted extensively to data. We show that elimination based on CDTI relies on shifting the threshold biting rate to a level that is higher than the annual biting rate. Breakpoints become relevant in the context of when to s... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4400122 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4400122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4400124&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21251914%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dougall AM, Alexander B, Holt D, Harris T, Sultan AH, Bates PA, Rose K, Walton SF The first autochthonous Leishmania infection in Australia was reported by Rose et al. (2004) and the parasite was characterized as a unique species. The host was the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) but the transmitting vector was unknown. To incriminate the biological vector, insect trapping by a variety of methods was undertaken at two field sites of known Leishmania transmission. Collected sand flies were identified to species level and were screened for Leishmania DNA using a semi-quantitative real-time PCR. Collections revealed four species of sand fly, with a predominance of the reptile biter Sergentomyia queenslandi (Hill). However, no Leishmania-positive flies were detected. Therefore, alter... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4400124 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4400124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4400126&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21236259%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we tested the role of miR-221 in regulating ICAM-1 expression in epithelial cells in response to C. parvum infection using an in vitro model of human biliary cryptosporidiosis. Up-regulation of ICAM-1 at both message and protein levels was detected in epithelial cells following C. parvum infection. Inhibition of ICAM-1 transcription with actinomycin D could only partially block C. parvum-induced ICAM-1 expression at the protein level. Cryptosporidium parvum infection decreased miR-221 expression in infected epithelial cells. When cells were transfected with a luciferase reporter construct covering the miR-221 binding site in the ICAM-1 3'-UTR and then exposed to C. parvum, an enhanced luciferase activity was detected. Transfection of miR-221 precursor abolished C. parvum-sti... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4400126 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4400126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4400125&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21236260%26dopt%3DAbstract This study also confirmed that the putative eggshell protein p14 contributes largely to the eggshell. Together, these results give new insights into eggshell composition as well as eggshell formation. Those proteins that are present at the site and time of eggshell formation are incorporated in the cross-linked eggshell and this cross-linking does no longer occur when the miracidium starts secreting proteins. PMID: 21236260 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4400125 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4400125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4400129&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21232538%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bousquet-Mélou A, Jacquiet P, Hoste H, Clément J, Bergeaud JP, Alvinerie M, Toutain PL Licking behaviour in cattle has been reported to account for the disposition of topically administered macrocyclic lactones. However, its impact on anthelmintic efficacy remains to be established. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of ivermectin exchange between cattle on the reduction in the faecal egg count (FEC) after pour-on administration in a group of 10 heifers experimentally infected with Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora. Four treated (500 μg/kg, pour-on) and six untreated animals were put together after treatment and plasma and faecal exposure to ivermectin as well as the FECs were evaluated before and over 40 days after treatment. Ivermectin was detected in plasma and... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4400129 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4400129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4400128&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21232539%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Llewellyn MS, Rivett-Carnac JB, Fitzpatrick S, Lewis MD, Yeo M, Gaunt MW, Miles MA Trypanosoma cruzi is an evolutionarily ancient parasitic protozoan endemic to the Americas. Multiple genetic and phenotypic markers indicate that this parasite is highly diverse, with several divergent and discrete major genotypes reported. Infection multiclonality has been observed among numerous metazoan and unicellular endoparasitic species. However, few studies report the complexity of mixed infections within an individual host in any detail or consider their ecological and biological implications. Here we report extraordinary genetic diversity within single reservoir hosts of T. cruzi I using nine polymorphic microsatellite markers across 233 clones from eight mammals from three different s... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4400128 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4400128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4400127&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21232540%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Riley E, Roberts SC, Ullman B Arginase (ARG), the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of arginine to ornithine and urea, is the first and committed step in polyamine biosynthesis in Leishmania. The creation of a conditionally lethal Δarg null mutant in Leishmania mexicana has established that ARG is an essential enzyme for the promastigote form of the parasite and that the enzyme provides an important defense mechanism for parasite survival in the eukaryotic host. Furthermore, human ARGI (HsARGI) has also been implicated as a key factor in parasite proliferation. Thus, inhibitors of ARG offer a rational paradigm for drug design. To initiate a search for inhibitors of the L. mexicana ARG (LmARG), recombinant LmARG and HsARGI enzymes were purified from Escherichia coli. Both L... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4400127 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4400127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4332997&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21219906%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we cloned 38 distinct miRNAs, including four candidate new miRNAs that seem to be specific to Echinococcus spp. Thirty-four cloned sequences were orthologous to miRNAs already described in other organisms and were grouped in 16 metazoan miRNA families, some of them known for their role in the development of other organisms. The expression of some of the cloned miRNAs differs according to the parasite life cycle stage analysed, showing differential developmental expression. We did not detect differences in the expression of the analysed miRNAs between protoscoleces of two parasite genotypes. This work sets the scene for the study of gene regulation mediated by miRNAs in E. granulosus and provides a new approach to study the molecules involved in its developmental plasticity a... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4332997 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4332997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4332999&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21215746%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hovsepian E, Mirkin G, Penas F, Manzano A, Bartrons R, Goren NB Trypanosoma cruzi infection produces an intense inflammatory response in diverse tissues including the heart. The inflammatory reaction is critical for the control of the parasites' proliferation and evolution of Chagas disease. 15-Deoxy-Δ(12,14) prostaglandin J(2) (15dPGJ2) can repress the inflammatory response in many experimental models. However, the precise role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) ligands in T. cruzi infection or in Chagas disease is poorly understood. This work reports the first evidence that 15dPGJ2 treatment increases the number of intracellular parasites as shown by fluorescence microscopy and it is also able to inhibit the expression and activity of different inflam... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4332999 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4332999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4332998&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21215747%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Luong LT, Vigliotti BA, Hudson PJ The vast majority of parasites exhibit an aggregated frequency distribution within their host population, such that most hosts have few or no parasites while only a minority of hosts are heavily infected. One exception to this rule is the trophically transmitted parasite Pterygodermatites peromysci of the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), which is randomly distributed within its host population. Here, we ask: what are the factors generating the random distribution of parasites in this system when the majority of macroparasites exhibit non-random patterns? We hypothesize that tight density-dependent processes constrain parasite establishment and survival, preventing the build-up of parasites within individual hosts, and preclude aggrega... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4332998 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4332998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4333000&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21195075%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ruiz-Lancheros E, Viau C, Walter TN, Francis A, Geary TG The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a useful model for studying the pharmacology of anthelmintics. Currently approved anthelmintics have various mechanisms of action, including activity at nematode nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Classical anthelmintic agonists of these receptors (nicotine, levamisole, pyrantel and bephenium) caused intact specimens of C. elegans to undergo contracted paralysis. The nAChR antagonist mecamylamine paralyzed intact worms and blocked the actions of the agonists. The time to onset of effects of these drugs was enhanced when worms bisected between the mid- and anterior portions were tested. The novel anthelmintic nAChR antagonist derquantel (2-desoxoparaherquamide, 2... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4333000 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4333000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4333001&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21185298%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vilchez Larrea SC, Alonso GD, Schlesinger M, Torres HN, Flawiá MM, Fernández Villamil SH Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a post-translational modification of proteins. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) are the enzymes responsible for poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymer metabolism and are present in most higher eukaryotes. The best understood role of PARP is the maintenance of genomic integrity either via promotion of DNA repair at low levels of genotoxic stress or via promotion of cell death at higher levels of damage. The unicellular eukaryote Trypanosoma cruzi, as opposed to humans and other organisms, has only one PARP (TcPARP) and one PARG (TcPARG). In the present study we show that under different DNA-damaging agents (H(2)O(2) or UV-C ra... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4333001 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4333001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4333006&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21172349%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Elshafie AI, Hlin E, Håkansson LD, Elghazali G, Safi SH, Rönnelid J, Venge P Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a health issue in Sudan. Our aim was to investigate the involvement of eosinophils and neutrophils in VL by serum and plasma measurements of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and some key cytokines and chemokines. Blood was collected from 125 VL patients and 181 healthy Sudanese controls from the same rural area. Results showed reduced eosinophil and neutrophil counts in the VL group (P=0.0001and P=0.002, respectively). Serum-ECP levels were higher in the controls (P<0.0001), while plasma MPO levels were higher in the VL group (P<0.0001). Levels of IL-5, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-17 were increased a... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4333006 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4333006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4333005&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21172350%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Králová-Hromadová I, Bazsalovicsová E, Stefka J, Spakulová M, Vávrová S, Szemes T, Tkach V, Trudgett A, Pybus M The giant liver fluke, Fascioloides magna, a liver parasite of free-living and domestic ruminants of Europe and North America, was analysed in order to determine the origin of European populations and to reveal the biogeography of this originally North American parasite on the European continent. The variable fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1; 384bp) and nicotinamide dehydrogenase subunit I (nad1; 405bp) were used. Phylogenetic trees and haplotype networks were constructed and the level of genetic structuring was evaluated using population genetic tools. In F. magna individuals originating from all European foci of infection (... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4333005 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4333005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4333004&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21172351%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Krepp J, Gelmedin V, Hawdon JM When hookworm infective L3s infect their mammalian host, they undergo a temperature shift from that of the ambient environment to that of their endothermic host. Additionally, L3s living in the environment can be exposed to temperature extremes associated with weather fluctuations. The heat shock response (HSR) is a conserved response to heat shock and other stress that involves the expression of protective heat shock proteins (HSPs). The HSR is controlled by heat shock factor-1 (HSF-1), a conserved transcription factor that binds to a heat shock element in the promoter of HSPs, causing their expression. HSF-1 is negatively regulated in part by a HSF binding protein (HSB-1) that binds to and removes HSF-1 trimers bound to HSP gene promoters, resu... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4333004 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4333004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4333003&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21172352%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Robinson N, Pleasance J, Piedrafita D, Meeusen EN Gastrointestinal nematode parasites undergo several developmental stages within their mammalian host, each presenting different antigenic challenges to the immune system. To examine the expression of different immune mediators over time, biopsy samples were collected from the cannulated abomasum (true stomach) of immune sheep at several times after a challenge infection with Haemonchus contortus L3s. IL-5 and IL-13 mRNA expression levels were significantly increased above saline-challenged control levels at 5 and 7days post challenge, while IL-4 showed an earlier peak at day 2 post challenge. IL-5, IL-13 and IL-4, as well as IFN-γ mRNA levels, peaked at 7days before decreasing to non-significant levels at 28days post challenge... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4333003 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4333003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4333002&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21176781%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wielinga C, Ryan U, Andrew Thompson RC, Monis P Recent research concerning Giardia duodenalis has focused on resolving possible sub-assemblages within Assemblages A and B to better understand host-specific and zoonotic relationships. In the present study nine cloned, cultured, Assemblage B isolates were used to investigate the intra-Assemblage B substitution patterns of conserved (ssrDNA, ef, h2b, h4) and variable (tpi, gdh, bg) genes to assess their suitability for further application to sub-assemblage analyses. The resolution of each gene was found to be proportional to its substitution rate and for the genetically narrow sample set examined, the variable genes best represented the consensus phylogeny while the conserved genes only established fractions. However it was demon... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4333002 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4333002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275204&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21168413%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cruz LN, Alves E, Leal MT, Juliano MA, Rosenthal PJ, Juliano L, Garcia CR Malaria is still a major health problem in developing countries. It is caused by the protist parasite Plasmodium, in which proteases are activated during the cell cycle. Ca(2+) is a ubiquitous signaling ion that appears to regulate protease activity through changes in its intracellular concentration. Proteases are crucial to Plasmodium development, but the role of Ca(2+) in their activity is not fully understood. Here we have investigated the role of Ca(2+) in protease modulation among rodent Plasmodium species. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptides, we verified protease activity elicited by Ca(2+) from the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER) after stimulus with thapsigargin (SERCA inhibi... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275204 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4275204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275205&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21167832%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Leung TL, Poulin R We experimentally investigated the interactions between two parasites known to manipulate their host's phenotype, the trematodes Acanthoparyphium sp. and Curtuteria australis, which infect the cockle Austrovenus stutchburyi. The larval stages of both species encyst within the tissue of the bivalve's muscular foot, with a preference for the tip of the foot. As more individuals accumulate at that site, they impair the burrowing behaviour of cockles and increase the probability of the parasites' transmission to a bird definitive host. However, individuals at the foot tip are also vulnerable to non-host predators in the form of foot-cropping fish which selectively bite off the foot tip of exposed cockles. Parasites encysted at the foot base are safe from such pr... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275205 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4275205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275207&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21163262%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Igoillo-Esteve M, Mazet M, Deumer G, Wallemacq P, Michels PA Metabolism in trypanosomatids is compartmentalized with major pathways, notably glycolysis, present in peroxisome-like organelles called glycosomes. To date, little information is available about the transport of metabolites through the glycosomal membrane. Previously, three ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, called GAT1-3 for Glycosomal ABC Transporters 1 to 3, have been identified in the glycosomal membrane of Trypanosoma brucei. Here we report that GAT1 and GAT3 are expressed both in bloodstream and procyclic form trypanosomes, whereas GAT2 is mainly or exclusively expressed in bloodstream-form cells. Protease protection experiments showed that the nucleotide-binding domain of GAT1 and GAT3 is exposed to the... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275207 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4275207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275206&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21163263%26dopt%3DAbstract We report characterisation of two key translation elongation factors in Plasmodium falciparum, apicoplast-encoded elongation factor PfEF-Tu and nuclear-encoded PfEF-Ts. Recombinant PfEF-Tu hydrolysed GTP and interacted with its presumed nuclear-encoded partner PfEF-Ts. The EF-Tu inhibitor kirromycin affected PfEF-Tu activity in vitro, indicating that apicoplast EF-Tu is indeed the target of this drug. The predicted PfEF-Ts leader sequence targeted GFP to the apicoplast, confirming that PfEF-Ts functions in this organelle. Recombinant PfEF-Ts mediated nucleotide exchange on PfEF-Tu and homology modeling of the PfEF-Tu:PfEF-Ts complex revealed PfEF-Ts-induced structural alterations that would expedite GDP release from PfEF-Tu. Our results establish functional interaction between two apicopla... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275206 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4275206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275208&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21145323%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dubreuil G, Deleury E, Magliano M, Jaouannet M, Abad P, Rosso MN Temporary Retraction as ordered by the Editor and Author. PMID: 21145323 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275208 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4275208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275210&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21145321%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Opsteegh M, Teunis P, Züchner L, Koets A, Langelaar M, van der Giessen J The role of beef in human infections with Toxoplasma gondii is not clear. To get a better understanding of the value of seroprevalence as an indication of the role of beef in human infections with T. gondii we studied the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Dutch cattle and analyzed the correlation between detection of antibodies and parasitic DNA. An indirect ELISA was developed and used to test a sample of the Dutch cattle population. Since validation of the ELISA was hampered by a lack of sufficient bovine reference sera, the results were analyzed in two different ways: using a cut-off value that was based on the course of the O.D. in 27 calves followed from birth until 16 months of age, and by fitting a m... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275210 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4275210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275209&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21145322%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hou XY, Ellis MK, McManus DP, Wang YY, Li SD, Williams GM, Li YS Hepatic fibrosis caused by schistosome infection can be fatal. Its management depends on the degree of fibrosis present. To assess the diagnostic value of biomarkers in patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica at different stages of disease progression, 84 advanced schistosomiasis japonica patients and nine controls were recruited in The People's Republic of China. Fibrosis was histologically assessed in wedge liver biopsies using the Chinese Criteria for Fibrosis (F) Stages. Seven selected hepatic fibrosis biomarkers were assessed and compared between the groups. The method of area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) was used as a measurement of diagnostic efficacy. Our results showed ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275209 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4275209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4250541&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21118694%26dopt%3DAbstract We report that L3 parasites can be chemically transfected in situ in the peritoneal cavity of a gerbil with a construct consisting of a secreted luciferase reporter gene containing a promoter, the 3' untranslated region and first intron derived from the B. malayi 70kDa heat shock protein gene. The in situ chemically transfected parasites are developmentally competent, producing adult parasites with an efficiency similar to that obtained from implanted untreated L3s. Cultured adult parasites and progeny microfilariae (mf) derived from L3s transfected with this construct secreted luciferase into the culture medium. When the transfected mf were fed to mosquitoes and the resulting L3s collected, the L3s also secreted luciferase into the culture medium. Progeny mf from transgenic adult parasite... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4250541 Sat, 27 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4250541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4250540&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21118695%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, intraspecific variation in the repeat units of LPG was evaluated in 16 strains of L. infantum from Brazil, France, Algeria and Tunisia. The structural polymorphism in the L. infantum LPG repeat units was relatively slight and consisted of three types: type I does not have side chains; type II has one β-glucose residue that branches off the disaccharide-phosphate repeat units and type III has up to three glucose residues (oligo-glucosylated). The significance of these modifications was investigated during in vivo interaction of L. infantum with Lutzomyia longipalpis, and in vitro interaction of the parasites and respective LPGs with murine macrophages. There were no consequential differences in the parasite densities in sand fly midguts infected with Leishmania strains exhib... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4250540 Sat, 27 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4250540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4217401&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21110978%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nakazawa S, Culleton R, Maeno Y Understanding why some malaria-infected individuals are infective to mosquitoes while others are not, is of great importance when considering interventions to stop malaria transmission. Whether gametocytes are produced in every individual infected with Plasmodium falciparum remains unclear. Using a highly sensitive reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay, we attempted to detect gametocyte-specific mRNA transcripts in isolates from Thai patients which newly adapted to continuous in vitro culture. We then compared the allelic types of the pfg377 gene between patient blood and culture-adapted parasites in order to determine whether the same parasite lines were producing gametocytes in vivo and in vitro. Transcripts of pfg377 were detected in all paras... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4217401 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4217401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4200841&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21087611%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kallert DM, Bauer W, Haas W, El-Matbouli M This work reports the discovery of an hitherto unknown chemical recognition trait enabling a parasitic life cycle in aquatic habitats. We believe this is the first record of a natural, host-derived chemical molecule identified as a recognition cue for the phylum Myxozoa. The actinospores of these parasites attach to fish hosts via polar filaments that are extruded upon mechanical stimulation after preceding recognition of a chemical trigger contained in surface mucus. Our goal was to identify this signal. We separated compounds from a purified active fraction derived from trout mucus by a novel HPLC method. By subsequent nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of distinct components and testing in bioassays we elicited stimulation of pola... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4200841 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4200841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4184867&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21081133%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Timi JT, Rossin MA, Alarcos AJ, Braicovich PE, Cantatore DM, Lanfranchi AL Whereas the effect of parasites on food webs is increasingly recognized and has been extensively measured and modelled, the effect of food webs on the structure of parasite assemblages has not been quantified in a similar way. Here, we apply the concept of decay in community similarity with increasing distance, previously used for parasites in geographical, phylogenetic and ontogenetic contexts, to differences in the trophic level (TL) based on diet composition of fishes. It is proposed as an accurate quantitative method to measure rates of assemblage change as a function of host feeding habits and is applied, to our knowledge for the first time, across host species in marine waters. We focused on a sui... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4184867 Sat, 13 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4184867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4184868&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21074536%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ringqvist E, Avesson L, Söderbom F, Svärd SG Giardia intestinalis is one of the major causes of parasite-induced diarrhea. The disease, giardiasis, is caused by trophozoites attaching to the intestinal epithelium, resulting in apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, disrupted epithelial barrier function and malabsorption. Microarray studies have detected extensive gene expression changes in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) during interaction with Giardia trophozoites in vitro. In the present study we examined this host-parasite interaction further by transcriptional profiling of interacting trophozoites using Giardia microarrays. A total of 200 Giardia transcripts were significantly changed due to the interaction, lasting up to 18 h in complete growth medium. Quantitativ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4184868 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4184868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4165741&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21055404%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, we believe this is the first study highlighting miltefosine as a promising novel agent for schistosomiasis mansoni. PMID: 21055404 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal for Parasitology) International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4165741 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4165741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4165729&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21055405%26dopt%3DAbstract This study evaluated the viability of Cryptosporidium andersoni sporozoites in gastric environments after excystation and examined the endogenous development and histopathological changes in the stomachs of infected mice, using a novel type of C. andersoni. Sporozoites were affected by low pH (61.6% viability after 3 h at pH 2.0). Electron microscopy revealed developmental parasites on the gastric foveolae but not on the surface of the gastric mucosa. Histopathological examinations at 1, 2, 4 and 12 weeks p.i. uncovered three different lesions. The gastric mucosa of foveolae filled with parasites was extended and the amount of neutral mucopolysaccharide at the mucosal surface was decreased with the first type of lesion. The gastric mucosa was atrophied, some gastric glands were disrupted a... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4165729 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4165729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139293&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21044631%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Miller CM, Zakrzewski AM, Ikin RJ, Boulter NR, Katrib M, Lees MP, Fuller SJ, Wiley JS, Smith NC The P2X(7) receptor (P2X(7)R) is a two transmembrane receptor that is highly expressed on the surface of immune cells. Loss of function polymorphisms in this receptor have been linked to increased susceptibility to intracellular pathogens. P2X(7)R gene knockout (P2X(7)R(-/-); on a C57Bl/6J background), C57Bl/6J and BALB/c mice were infected with the avirulent ME49 strain of the intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, and susceptibility determined by monitoring weight loss. P2X(7)R(-/-) mice lost significantly more weight than C57Bl/6J mice from day 8 p.i.. C57Bl/6J, in turn, lost significantly more weight than BALB/c mice. Thus, by day 10 p.i., P2X(7)R(-/-) mice had lost 5.7 ± 0... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139293 Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4139293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4107811&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20974144%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we examine the interaction of Th2-inducing molecules from the parasitic helminth Ascaris lumbricoides with the maturation processes and function of DCs. Here we show that murine bone marrow-derived DCs are partially matured by A. lumbricoides pseudocoelomic body fluid (ABF) as characterised by the production of IL-6, IL-12p40 and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) but no enhanced expression of cluster of differentiation (CD)-14, T-cell co-stimulatory markers CD80, CD86, CD40, OX40L and major histocompatibility complex class II was observed. Despite these phenotypic characteristics, ABF-stimulated DCs displayed the functional hallmarks of fully matured cells, enhancing DC phagocytosis and promoting Th2-type responses in skin-draining lymph node cells in vivo. ABF activa... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4107811 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4107811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4107810&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20974145%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bousema T, Sutherland CJ, Churcher TS, Mulder B, Gouagna LC, Riley EM, Targett GA, Drakeley CJ Malaria-infected individuals can develop antibodies which reduce the infectiousness of Plasmodium gametocytes to biting Anopheles mosquitoes. When ingested in a bloodmeal together with gametocytes, these antibodies reduce or prevent subsequent parasite maturation in the insect host. This transmission-blocking immunity is usually measured in human sera by testing its effect on the infectivity of gametocytes grown in vitro. Here we evaluate evidence of transmission-blocking immunity in eight studies conducted in three African countries. Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes isolated from each individual were fed to mosquitoes in both autologous plasma collected with the parasites, and perm... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4107810 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4107810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4076605&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20946897%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Noureddine R, Chauvin A, Plantard O Host-parasite interactions may select for significant novel mutations with major evolutionary consequences for both partners. In poor active dispersers such as ticks, their population structures are shaped by their host movements. Here, we use population genetics and phylogeography to investigate the evolutionary history of the most common tick in Europe, Ixodes ricinus, a vector of pathogenic agents causing diseases in humans and animals. Two mitochondrial and four nuclear genes were sequenced for 60 individuals collected on four geographical scales (local, regional, Eurasian and western Palearctic scales). The overall level of nucleotide diversity was low and the variability did not differ at the local, regional or Eurasian scales but incr... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4076605 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4076605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061811&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20937281%26dopt%3DAbstract This report sought to examine this association by exploring the differences in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) among participants with and without infection with Toxocara spp. using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, undertaken by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, during 1988-1994. The results showed a significant association between diminished lung function and previous infection with Toxocara spp. Those with antibody evidence of Toxocara infection displayed FEV(1) that was 105.3 mL less than those without previous infection. This relationship persisted while controlling for age, sex, education level, BMI, smoking status, ethnicity, immigration, rural residence and dog ownership (fully adjusted difference = 73 mL). These... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061811 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061813&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20934427%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Blake DP, Oakes R, Smith AL Eimeria maxima is one of seven Eimeria spp. that infect the chicken and cause the disease coccidiosis. The well characterised immunogenicity and genetic diversity associated with E. maxima promote its use in genetics-led studies on avian coccidiosis. The development of a genetic map for E. maxima, presented here based upon 647 amplified fragment length polymorphism markers typed from 22 clonal hybrid lines and assembled into 13 major linkage groups, is a major new resource for work with this parasite. Comparison with genetic maps produced for other coccidial parasites indicates relatively high levels of genetic recombination. Conversion of ∼14% of the markers representing the major linkage groups to sequence characterised amplified region markers ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061813 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061812&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20934428%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hajnická V, Vančová-Štibrániová I, Slovak M, Kocáková P, Nuttall PA For successful blood-feeding, ticks must confront the host immune system comprising many cells and signaling molecules, mainly cytokines and growth factors. These factors bind to specific receptors on the cell membranes, thereby initiating asignaling cascade that leads to distinct cellular activities. Ticks are able to manipulate host immune responses via molecules secreted from their salivary glands. Saliva of ixodid ticks contains factors binding important cytokines and their subgroup, chemokines. Here we demonstrate that constituents of tick salivary gland extract (SGE) also appear to bind growth factors: transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast gr... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061812 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061812 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4042176&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20920506%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Garamszegi LZ Plasmodium parasites, the causative agents of malaria, are generally considered as harmful parasites, but many of them cause mild symptoms. Little is known about the evolutionary history and phylogenetic constraints that generate this interspecific variation in virulence due to uncertainties about the phylogenetic associations of parasites. Here, to account for such phylogenetic uncertainty, phylogenetic methods based on Bayesian statistics were followed in combination with sequence data from five genes to estimate the ancestral state of virulence in primate Plasmodium parasites. When recent parasites were categorized according to the damage caused to the host, Bayesian estimates of ancestral states indicated that the acquisition of a harmful host exploitation st... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4042176 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4042176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4042178&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20887725%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rao VT, Forrester SG, Keller K, Prichard RK Serotonin and dopamine play important roles in the biology of nematodes where they exert their effect on feeding, locomotion and reproductive behavior. Haemonchus contortus, a parasitic nematode which infects small ruminants, is responsible for considerable economic losses in agriculture. In the current study we have mapped the localization of these two neurotransmitters in this parasite using immuno-staining. Serotonin localized in amphidial and pharyngeal neurons in both adult female and male worms. Serotonin was also found in ray sensory neurons as well as in a few ventral cord motor neurons exclusively in adult males. Surprisingly, dopamine was only detected in the neuronal commissures linking the lateral and sub-lateral nerve co... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4042178 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4042178 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4042177&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20887726%26dopt%3DAbstract This study investigated the associations between management, climatic and environmental factors affecting the spatial distribution of infection with F. hepatica in dairy herds in a temperate climate zone (Flanders, Belgium) over three consecutive years. A bulk-tank milk antibody ELISA was used to measure F. hepatica infection levels in a random sample of 1762 dairy herds in the autumns of 2006, 2007 and 2008. The infection levels were included in a Geographic Information System together with meteorological, environmental and management parameters. Logistic regression models were used to determine associations between possible risk factors and infection levels. The prevalence and spatial distribution of F. hepatica was relatively stable, with small interannual differences in prevalence and ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4042177 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4042177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999608&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20858498%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Martinelli A, Henriques G, Cravo P, Hunt P In malaria parasites, mutations in two genes of folate biosynthesis encoding dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) and dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) modify responses to anti-folate therapies which target these enzymes. However, the involvement of other genes which modify the availability of exogenous folate, for example, has been proposed. Here, we used short-read whole-genome re-sequencing to determine the mutations in a clone of the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium chabaudi, which has altered susceptibility to both sulphadoxine and pyrimethamine. This clone bears a previously identified S106N mutation in dhfr and no mutation in dhps. Instead, three additional point mutations in genes on chromosomes 2, 13 and 14 were identified. The mu... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999608 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3999608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999609&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20851123%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we have characterised the uptake of methionine by P. falciparum-infected human erythrocytes, and by parasites functionally isolated from their host cells by saponin-permeabilization of the erythrocyte membrane. Infected erythrocytes take up methionine much faster than uninfected erythrocytes, with the increase attributable to the flux of this amino acid via the New Permeability Pathways induced by the parasite in the erythrocyte membrane. Having entered the infected cell, methionine is taken up by the intracellular parasite via a saturable, temperature-dependent process that is independent of ATP, Na(+) and H(+). Substrate competition studies, and comparison of the transport of methionine with that of isoleucine and leucine, yielded results consistent with the hypothesis that... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999609 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3999609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999611&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20849858%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: De Vas MG, Portal P, Alonso GD, Schlesinger M, Flawiá MM, Torres HN, Villamil SF, Paveto C Trypanosoma cruzi flavoproteins TcCPR-A, TcCPR-B and TcCPR-C are members of the NADPH-dependent cytochrome P-450 reductase family expressed in the parasite. Epimastigotes over-expressing TcCPR-B and TcCPR-C showed enhanced ergosterol biosynthesis and increased NADP+/NADPH ratio. Transgenic parasites with augmented ergosterol content presented a higher membrane order with a corresponding diminished bulk-phase endocytosis. These results support a significant role for TcCPR-B and TcCPR-C in the sterol biosynthetic pathway and to our knowledge for the first time reveals the participation of more than one CPR in this metabolic route. Notably, TcCPR-B was found in reservosomes while TcCPR-C... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999611 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3999611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999610&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20849859%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Knight M, Ittiprasert W, Odoemelam EC, Adema CM, Miller A, Raghavan N, Bridger JM Biomphalaria glabrata is a major intermediate host for the parasitic trematode Schistosoma mansoni, a causative agent of human schistosomiasis. To decipher the molecular basis of this host-parasite interaction, the Bge embryonic cell line provides a unique in vitro model system to assess whether interactions between the snail and parasite affect the cell and genome biology in either organism. The organisation of the B. glabrata genome in Bge cells was studied using image analysis through positioning territories of differently sized chromosomes within cell nuclei. The snail chromosome territories are similar in morphology as well as in non-random radial positioning as those found in other derived ... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999610 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3999610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3982218&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20833170%26dopt%3DAbstract This study addresses these issues and represents an extensive genetic analysis of T. annulata populations in two endemic countries utilising a high-throughput adaptation of a micro- and mini-satellite genotyping system. Parasite material was collected from infected cattle in defined regions of Turkey and Tunisia to allow a variety of analyses to be conducted. All animals (n = 305) were found to harbour multiple parasite genotypes and only two isolates shared an identical predominant multi-locus profile. A modelling approach was used to demonstrate that host age, location and vaccination status play a measurable role in determining multiplicity of infection in an individual animal. Age was shown to positively correlate with multiplicity of infection and while positive vaccination status exe... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3982218 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3982218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3982217&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20833171%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Robardet E, Giraudoux P, Caillot C, Augot D, Boue F, Barrat J Urbanization of alveolar echinococcosis is a new phenomenon that has been highlighted during the last few decades. It has thus become necessary to understand the dynamics of transmission of Echinococcus multilocularis in urbanized areas. Spatial heterogeneity of infection by E. multilocularis has been explained as the result of a multifactorial dependence of the transmission in which the factors depend on the scale of the investigation. The aim of this study was to assess, in an urbanized area, the effect of such environmental factors as season, habitat type and the level of urbanization, on the availability of two major intermediate hosts (Microtus spp. and Arvicola terrestris), the distribution of red fox faeces a... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3982217 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3982217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3982216&cid=s_35633_141_f&fid=35633&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20833172%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Perrot-Minnot MJ, Gaillard M, Dodet R, Cézilly F Few endoparasite species are pigmented. Acanthocephalans are an exception however, with several species being characterised by yellow to orange coloration both at the immature (cystacanth) and adult stages. However, the functional and adaptive significance of carotenoid-based colorations in acanthocephalans remains unclear. One possibility is that the carotenoid content of acanthocephalan cystacanths acts as a protective device against ultra-violet radiation (UVR) passing through the translucent cuticle of their crustacean hosts. Indeed, acanthocephalans often bring about behavioural changes in their aquatic intermediate hosts that can increase their exposure to light. Carotenoid composition and damage due to ultra-violet - B... International Journal for Parasitology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3982216 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3982216